Lost-and-found boxes: Melting pots of wayward items

Sunday

Jul 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

When Walt Disney World staffers recently returned three platinum and diamond wedding rings to a Massachusetts couple who left them after visiting the theme park, some wondered how such precious jewels could be lost in the first place.

STACY M. BROWN

When Walt Disney World staffers recently returned three platinum and diamond wedding rings to a Massachusetts couple who left them after visiting the theme park, some wondered how such precious jewels could be lost in the first place.

Think that's bad? How about this list:

A Chinese opium pipe. A shrunken head. Bagpipes. A stuffed goose. A 5.6-carat diamond hidden in a sock.

And a complete Las Vegas showgirl costume.

They all landed in the lost-and-found of several airline baggage claims.

While such losses may seem hard to imagine, gatekeepers at Pocono-area resorts, theaters and other tourist attractions say the House of Mouse and American Airlines terminals aren't the only places unwitting visitors habitually leave behind their valuables.

"Jewelry is always a big one for us," said Doug Hustad, vice president and general manager of Skytop Lodge. "I look at the lost and found bins as one of the best things we can do for our valued guests. If they forget something, there is nothing better we can say to them than that we have found it."

Poconos visitors have even left behind pets, such as gold fish and turtles.

"Wallets with cash, cellphones, credit cards. We get them all," said Kyle Kuczma, marketing director for the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg.

"We've even had car keys turn up in our lost and found area. Some of the more interesting things that people have left include walking canes and some bands have left guitars."

In Long Pond at Pocono Raceway, guests often leave eye wear, including sunglasses, said raceway Vice President Bob Pleban.

"I guess the most unique item we've had in recent years have been dentures," Pleban said.

Towels are among the most popular things left behind at Camelbeach.

"The oddest of things are, surprisingly, electronics, including cellphones and iPods," said Megan McHugh, the water park's marketing director.

Camelbeach workers clean out lost and found bins about once a month and various local charities are the beneficiaries, McHugh said.

When unclaimed for more than 30 days, Martz Trailways donates the contents of its lost and found bins to the Lions Club of Scranton, the Victim's Resource Center and Volunteers of America, said Lisa Rohland, terminal director of Martz. (Umbrellas are the most commonly recovered item for Martz.)

Pocono Raceway records and inventory each lost item and then, if unclaimed after one year, all those of value are handed over to the local Red Cross, Pleban said.

There are many times, however, when items are happily reunited with their owners.

"We had a case just last week where someone left some very important earrings that had a lot of sentimental value," Hustad said. "I was able to Fed-Ex the earrings back to the person and they were so ecstatic."